Week 1 Recap of the 2025 General Assembly Session

January 17, 2025

We just wrapped up the first full week of the 2025 General Assembly Session! I have been hard at work meeting with constituents, attending committee meetings, voting on bills, speaking at press conferences, and presenting my bills. We hit the ground running with committee hearings on critical legislation that will uplift and improve the lives of Virginians across the Commonwealth. As we continue this crucial work, I wanted to share a few updates with you.

Legislative Update

On Tuesday I presented my first bill before the Labor and Commerce Committee: HB1625. This bill would finally include farmworkers in Virginia’s Minimum Wage Act. Virginia’s farmers are the resilient backbone of our agricultural economy. They work tirelessly to provide a diverse range of crops and high-quality food, not just for Virginians, but also the rest of the country. It is past time we remove the discriminatory farmworker exemption from our minimum wage law to ensure these essential workers are paid fairly. This bill passed the General Assembly last year, but it was unfortunately vetoed by the Governor. I am proud to bring this bill back during the 2025 Session because we must continue the conversation about the importance of paying farmworkers a fair and livable wage. My bill passed the Labor and Commerce Committee on a vote of 12-9 and now heads to the Appropriations Committee!

I also presented HB1886 to the Courts of Justice Criminal Subcommittee, HB2074 to the Transportation Highway Safety and Policy Subcommittee, and HB1623 to the General Laws Housing and Consumer Protection Subcommittee. These bills reflect my commitment to decriminalizing poverty, improving road safety, and supporting tenants facing eviction. It is a great honor to share that all of these bills have passed their respective subcommittees and will now be sent to the full committees.

Lastly, I presented HB1614 and HB1617 to the Health and Human Services Social Services Subcommittee. HB1614 would expand Medicaid coverage for postpartum doula visits, which will create healthier families and improve health outcomes for mothers and babies. As a new mom to a 2-month-old, I am experiencing firsthand the importance of emotional, physical, and informational support before, during, and after childbirth. The other bill I presented, HB1617, would waive fees for homeless youth related to obtaining vital documents, such as birth certificates, drivers’ licenses, and state ID cards. These documents are necessary for homeless youth to access many education, training, employment, food, housing, and other supportive programs. I am thrilled that both of these bills passed unanimously with complete bipartisan support out of the Social Services Subcommittee and will now be heard in Appropriations.

I look forward to presenting and voting on more bills in the coming weeks. To see the full list of legislation that I have introduced this session, click here. I have also signed on as a Co-Patron or Chief Co-Patron to many of my colleagues’ bills, which can be viewed here. Stay tuned for my weekly updates as these bills progress through the legislative process.

Press Conferences

On Tuesday, the Virginia House Democratic Caucus and the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus held consecutive press conferences. These press conferences discussed the top priorities and set the agenda for the 2025 legislative session. Many pressing issues were addressed including justice reform, election integrity, and reproductive healthcare rights.

For more information about the 2025 priorities of the Virginia House Democratic Caucus and Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, visit their websites:

🔗 Virginia House Democratic Caucus
🔗 Virginia Legislative Black Caucus

On Wednesday, I joined Senator Stella Pekarsky and Delegate Alfonso Lopez for a press conference on hidden “junk” fees. I am bringing back HB2515 to ensure that our families are not sacrificing their hard-earned money to greedy corporations across all industries.

Senator Pekarsky and I are working hard to prohibit these bad actors from hiding mandatory fees from consumers. Virginians deserve to know the total price of a good or service upfront, without being subject to dishonest advertising. In a time when the wallet may not stretch as far as it once did, eliminating these hidden fees will provide thousands of dollars in relief to everyday Virginians.

Constitutional Amendments

This week, the House voted in favor of three constitutional amendments:

HJ1 safeguards a person’s right to choose contraception, abortion, IVF, and other critical aspects of reproductive care without interference from politicians. This amendment ensures legal protections amid shifting federal policies and national uncertainties regarding reproductive rights. HJ1 passed the House on a vote of 51-48, which sets us on the path toward allowing Virginians to vote on enshrining reproductive freedom in the Constitution.
HJ2 proposes automatic restoration of voting rights for returning citizens, fostering a more just and fair society. We are the only state that permanently disenfranchises everyone with a felony conviction unless they individually petition the Governor to restore their rights. This is about the fundamental right to vote and the fundamental right to families, ensuring if a person has served their time, they deserve to have their right to participate in democracy restored. HJ2 passed on a vote of 55-44.
HJ9 protects a person’s fundamental right to marriage equality. This amendment seeks to overturn Virginia’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage and uphold current federal law. By removing the ban on same-sex marriage, Virginia is affirming the dignity and rights of all couples and families in our Commonwealth. Our laws must reflect our commitment to equality and justice. Marriage equality is non-negotiable, and this amendment will guarantee that Virginia is a place of acceptance for all. HJ9 passed on a vote of 58-32, with 2 members abstaining.

Upcoming Events

Arlington Young Democrats New Member Happy Hour

Celebrate the start of 2025 with Arlington Young Democrats! Join us for our New Year Social Hour as we kick off 2025 with good vibes, great conversations, and fantastic company! Whether you’re a long-time member or looking to get involved for the first time, this is the perfect opportunity to connect with fellow Young Democrats in Arlington.

📅 When: Wednesday, January 22 at 7:00 PM
📍 Where: The Board Room VA, 925 N. Garfield St.

MLK Day of Service

Give back to our Arlington community on MLK Day of Service, hosted by Volunteer Arlington, a public-private partnership between the Leadership Center of Arlington and Arlington County. A variety of service projects will take place at Washington-Liberty High School (W-L) and other locations around Arlington. Register here.

📅 When: Saturday, January 18, 8:30 AM–12:00 PM
📍 Where: Washington-Liberty High School & other locations

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office anytime. You can email us at 📧 [email protected], or give us a call at ☎️ (804) 698-1002. I look forward to hearing from you!

Yours in Action,
Delegate Adele McClure (HD-2)